After the 2021 NFL Draft, there was a feeling of optimism among Chicago Bears fans.
The nine-time NFL champions, with a history spanning over 100 years, grabbed the highly coveted Justin Fields in Round 1 – finally solving the long-standing problem at the quarterback position.
No, the front office had not only solved a problem, but had also guided a franchise player to the “Windy City” for the coming years, where icons like Bronko Nagurski and “Sweetness” Walter Payton once worked. Or Sid Luckman, the four-time champion quarterback of the 1940s. One who would lead the traditional team into a new era of success.
At least that’s what it seemed at the time.
Chicago Bears can’t get out of the long-term crisis in the NFL
Two years later, this euphoria is no longer noticeable. The Bears started the new season with two defeats, meaning the series of bankruptcies has already lasted twelve games across the season. The dream of the playoffs threatens to burst early this season.
In addition, Alan Williams, the first person responsible, seems to have already left the sinking ship. The defensive coordinator wanted to take more care of his health and family, he said, explaining his resignation.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked for the Chicago Bears – an NFL franchise with great history.”
The Bears currently don’t have anything to offer other than history. And Fields has lost much of the aura of the hopeful.
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Justin Fields causes chaos off the field
The Bears have not made two playoff appearances in a row since 2006. In general, the team from Illinois, which celebrated its only major triumph of the modern era with the Super Bowl victory in 1985, has only achieved that three times since 2006 Post-season reached.
And Fields, of all people, is adding more fuel to the fire in this situation. Last Wednesday he described his performance in the 17:27 defeat at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as “robotic” and said he “didn’t feel like myself”. When asked, he then dropped a medium-heavy bomb. Instead of looking for the fault in himself – as is normal for a leader – he said: “It could be the coaching.”
A few hours later that day, he appeared in front of the press again to make it clear that he didn’t want to blame the coaches: “I can play better. Absolutely clear!” But the damage had already been done.
Fields is also not convincing in terms of sport
Especially since he was unable to gain any arguments for himself with his sporting performance in the past. In 27 games as a starting quarterback for the Bears, he had a shockingly weak five wins. His 26 touchdown passes are matched by almost as many interceptions – 24! Fields has a shooting rate of 59.8 percent.
All Super Bowl champions since 2000
Actually, as the successor to Mitchell Trubisky, he should finally bring top quality to the playmaker position. Yes, Fields can run. This strength was known from the start. He has already covered 1,591 yards in his 27 starting appearances so far. Trubisky totaled just 680 yards in that same time.
Otherwise there’s not much going for the man from Ohio State University. His 4,469 passing yards compare to Trubisky’s 5,644 yards. In addition, his predecessor only threw 26 turnovers, while Fields already has 31. Fields also cannot keep up with his predecessor in terms of completion rate and pass rating.
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Ironically, Field’s running game – his greatest strength – is often cited for criticism. According to experts, the fact that the 24-year-old breaks out of the pocket so often is mainly due to his weakness in reading the opposing defense. This was excusable in his rookie year, but now it’s a sign that he hasn’t developed further.
Against this background, the doubts as to whether Fields will really reach the caliber of a franchise quarterback are growing louder.
Fields not the only culprit?
And yet you can’t blame the Bears chaos on Fields alone. There could be a grain of truth in his coaching criticism. After all, he is the second first-round pick after Trubisky to not get off to a good start in Chicago. “In the last five years there have been two top first-round quarterbacks who had a lot of potential, needed good coaching and got nothing of it,” said Mike Greenberg on the football talk show Get Up on ESPN. “So Justin Fields may have been destined to be a great NFL quarterback, but he was given absolutely no chance.”
Later in the broadcast, the well-known presenter and reporter repeated his criticism of the Bears and left no shadow of doubt as to who he sees as responsible. “They (the Bears front office, editor’s note) are ruining this kid due to complete organizational incompetence. This place is a dumpster fire.”
Will Kevin Warren become a beacon of hope?
Whether Fields, the coaches or the front office are responsible, the biggest hope right now is probably Kevin Warren. The 59-year-old has been in office as CEO of the Bears since January of this year. Prior to serving as Big Ten Commissioner, Warren served as Chief Operating Officer for the Minnesota Vikings for 14 years.
With the Bears, he now has the difficult task of getting general manager Ryan Poles and the team on track. Thanks to his short term in office, unburdened by the setbacks of recent years, he may bring the necessary breath of fresh air to Chicago.
An important first step would definitely be to get Fields and the coaching staff on the same page. So that Fields can turn from the Bears’ youngest problem child at the quarterback position into the savior that the fans so longed for two years ago.
2023-09-22 13:02:17
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